Thank you! Here's What's next
Justice United Members and Supporters:
Thank you! Your investment of time, talent, and money this spring has allowed Justice United to address the top concerns in our communities.
Together over the last six months we organized five public actions and won tens of thousands of dollars in public investment to launch a new affordable housing pilot program (master leasing). Thanks to this program five extremely low income families and individuals now are living in housing that they could not otherwise afford.
At this point we also appear to be on track to win funding for key diversity hiring and equity initiatives at Orange County Schools. The final budget for the district will be approved soon.
Over 30 JU leaders met last night to evaluate our public actions this spring and pledged participation in upcoming actions and events. The pledge sheet from the leaders meeting is available here.
Please read below to learn more about what's next.
Please save the date for these important upcoming events!
Press Conference
Monday, July 1, 7:00 PM
Hillsborough (location TBD)
Confirm your attendance here
Join us to mark the beginning of a new fiscal year for Orange County Schools with a capstone, press conference action. Justice United leaders will react to the final budget approved by the Board of Education, and will lay out our community-led vision for 2019/2020.
JU leaders are monitoring the current budget process. We have called on the Board of Education to prioritize funding for key diversity and hiring initiatives including: the strengthening of the teacher hiring pipeline through a "Grow Your Own" teacher assistant to teacher program.
Relational Meeting Event
Tuesday, July 30, 6:30 - 8:30 PM
Hillsborough (location TBD)
Confirm your attendance here
This event will allow for fellowship over dinner and two, 30 minute long conversations between participants (training will be provided to help participants navigate these conversations). It is based on Justice United's successful April 2 event that brought together over 50 members of our diverse institutions. The goal is to increase our countywide power base by strengthening relationships across Justice United's broad membership.
Issue Briefing at Your Institution
After service, or at other appropriate times
Turnout goal: At least 10 members
Learn how your congregation has taken action through Justice United to make change in the community, and to advance your institution's mission and values. This briefing will be co-led by leaders from your institution and Justice United organizer Devin Ross. More information about each briefing will be publicized internally within participating members institutions.
Contact Devin at [email protected] to plan an issue briefing in your community.
Superintendent Wirt Resigns
Last night Superintendent Wirt announced his resignation at the Orange County Board of Education meeting, effective June 30 (press link). This is an unexpected development, and it gives our May 9 Assembly even greater urgency.
Now, more than ever, we need your support. Please read below for important background to this announcement, and to learn how you can help us take effective action on May 9.
Background
Less than two weeks ago Dr. Wirt joined Orange County Board of Education Chair Brenda Stephens and Vice Chair Sarah Smylie at Justice United's Countywide Leaders Meeting to hear our reactions to strategies that they have developed to address concerns on the lack of teacher diversity and the need for more front office, bi-lingual staff within Orange County Schools. Read the report from our meeting here.
These strategies have the potential to strengthen the school system's hiring pipeline sufficient to increase teacher diversity and bi-lingual staff. However, in order for this to become a reality the Orange County Board of County Commissioners must first approve a per pupil funding increase requested by Orange County Schools which will pay for these initiatives.
Orange County will hold two public budget hearings the week following our Assembly on May 14 and May 16. This is our opportunity to show up and support the OCS funding request for these hiring strategies.
Justice United has invited Board Chair Stephens and Vice Chair Smylie to attend our May 9 Assembly to brief our membership on these strategies. Following their presentation we will caucus to pledge support for their budget request.
Dr. Wirt's unexpected resignation has given our Assembly greater urgency. Now is the time to act to get this deal funded, before we encounter the inevitable delays associated with the Superintendent's transition.
How You Can Help
Please follow these three steps to help us take action to address this key community issue:
1) Confirm your attendance today for our May 9 Assembly;
2) Recruit others from your institution to attend. Our goal is to deliver 300 members to this action. Turnout pledges from your institution are available here for reference;
3) RSVP to attend one or both of the public budget hearings to support the Orange County Schools budget request. We will discuss this request at our May 9 Assembly.
Public Budget Hearing 1, May 14, 7:00 PM, Whitted Building, Hillsborough
Public Budget Hearing 2, May 16, 7:00 PM, Southern Human Services Center, Chapel Hill
Additional Resources:
Bi-lingual assembly flyer. Download and distribute within your community.
Orange County Schools Goals for Hiring and Diversity (presented to JU on 4/11/19)
Questions? Email Justice United Organizer Devin Ross at [email protected], or text/call at 919 358 5828.